The National Park Service will no longer report death and serious injury in parks to the public, bucking a long-standing practice of the agency’s law enforcement and communications staff to disclose fatalities and serious safety incidents, according to an internal document viewed by POLITICO.
The Interior Department guidance said its federal land agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and others, should “never be the first to inform the public of a fatality or suspected suicide” and barred staff from confirming death details to the public.
Several park rangers who spoke with POLITICO, as well as park advocacy groups and former law enforcement personnel, said the guidance is roiling long-standing practices to keep the public safe.
“This is a significant change in reporting requirements, and we do not know or understand what the reason or motivation is,” said Bill Wade, executive director of the Association for National Park Rangers.
